Some nights everything clicks. The call came in the morning, the proof arrived at night. Victor Wembanyama had just been named an All-Star starter — a first for a French player — and the Frost Bank Center turned into his stage. The line: 33 points, 10 rebounds, 7 threes and a tidy Spurs win over the Jazz, 123-110. No fuss. Just control.
An All-Star — but above all a leader
The selection was expected. The response was immediate. In the first quarter Wembanyama set the tone. Three threes, 13 points, a presence that forced Utah to keep adjusting. He didn’t rush. He read the floor. He picked his moments. By halftime he already had 21 and felt like he could flip the switch whenever he wanted.
Victor Wembanyama hearing the news that he’s named an All-Star Starter. ⭐️🙌
(via @spurs)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 19, 2026
He’s not the prodigy you watch with curiosity anymore. He’s the player everything runs through.
Seven threes to stretch the floor
The shot chart told the night. 7-of-12 from deep — a season high. Every look made the Jazz hesitate: step back or contest, guard the rim or cut off the passing lanes. He made them pay either way. He stretched the floor, opened space for teammates and punished the smallest delay.
VICTOR WEMBANYAMA IN 26 MIN:
• 33 PTS, 10 REB, 2 BLKS, 7/12 3PM, 10/18 FG pic.twitter.com/0ZX94IQtMI
— Bala (@BalaPattySZN) January 20, 2026
He finished one shot shy of his 2024 career high. But that’s not the point. This wasn’t a numbers hunt. It was control on full display.
Spurs win together
Wembanyama stood out, but the Spurs moved as a unit. Seven players scored ten or more, the ball moved, and they set the pace after the break. The third quarter flipped the game — +12 in the period, a lead built without panic.
Stephon Castle played a huge part. Eleven points in the quarter, perfect at the line, aggressive in the gaps. Dylan Harper and De’Aaron Fox backed him up, a backcourt that didn’t overplay but hit exactly where it hurt. San Antonio turned a slim halftime edge into a comfortable finish.
Utah fought, then folded
The Jazz didn’t throw in the towel. Keyonte George tried to keep them close with 30 points, Jusuf Nurkic asserted himself inside. Still, the momentum never truly flipped. Utah had ended an eight-game Spurs run in late December. No payback this time.
San Antonio learned. And Wembanyama sealed the finish.
A week, a statement
Across this three-game homestand Wembanyama is averaging over 31 points. It’s not a spike. It’s a trend. His All-Star starter spot wasn’t a PR gift. It’s acknowledgement of a player who impacts games, forces defenses and shifts results.
On Monday night he didn’t celebrate. He stamped it. In an NBA that loves symbols he sent a simple one: yes, he’s an All-Star. But more importantly, he’s already something much bigger.
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